Sun – Venus ASPECT: Too Sweet?

In transit or solar arc, Sun-Venus contact suggests energized social and/or romantic activities. Unless it occurs under a more serious long-term influence (e.g. Pluto, Saturn etc), we can expect this to be a pleasant period where you might spend more time enjoying other people’s company than usual.

Natal conjunction (or semisquare) of Sun-Venus often suggests a pleasant personality. Venus function tends to help form bonds between people, so a healthy expression of this placement will be expressed as the genuine ability to attract and befriend others.

The only issue here might be that Venus’ focus tends to be a little shallow (for better or worse), so a lot of ego energy (the Sun) being focused on her sphere could starve other parts of your psyche (Mars, Uranus and Pluto, especially). Young person with Sun-Venus aspect might refuse to see the darker side of her friends’ character, and may end up being hurt or disappointed upon finding out.

Interpreting Progressed or Solar Arc Mars

Regardless of what system you use (I use Solar Arc), progressed Mars making a hard aspect to an important point in your horoscope will “heat it up” for a year or longer. In general we think in terms of the following:

Learning to stand up for one’s self: Someone who has been enduring an abusive relationship may suddenly decide “enough is enough” and start to fight back to protect her dignity.

Learning self-assertion: A quiet, shy person may be put in a position of leadership where she must put himself forward to be seen by others.

Learning to harness energy and motivation: You may feel a greater degree of energy and motivation to get things done, and accomplish challenging tasks.

If anger is felt during the Martial period, we often expect it to be necessary. However, not all fights that happen during this period are about protecting one’s boundary. Sometimes the anger that’s felt could be masking a much deeper emotion, like fear.

Anger and the Fear of Change

Psychologically speaking, if a strong, chronic pattern (e.g. criticism, rejection, abandonment, etc) has been in place for 20, 30, 40 years or even longer, the ego identifies with it and resists letting go of that pattern – it will hold on to that pattern no matter how toxic or debilitating it is, because of a belief that says “this is how my life should be, because it always was.”

When such patterns (e.g. depression, self-criticism etc) are strongly operating, we may unconsciously resist opportunities to improve our lives, because being happier means we need to let go of familiar mental & emotional patterns. Rather than change the pattern and feel the fear of the unknown, many people (without being aware of it) choose to stay within the familiar realm that feels debilitating, but safe.

You may be wondering “how is it possible to resist something good without being aware of it?” Anger is one way.

Example: Someone who grew up in a turbulent household with a lot of shouting and fighting may feel uncomfortable (albeit unconsciously) living in a peaceful home because it threatens her life long belief (e.g. “Home is not a safe place”) which has also become part of her identity. In this case, she may unconsciously begin to focus on those things about her partner that causes her to be angry, so that she may recreate that familiar pattern of shouting and fighting.

Solar arc Mars making a hard aspect to her Ascendant-Descendant axis or the Sun/Moon midpoint may be experienced as a season of angry exchanges and fights with her partner, not because of any external factors (although there may be some convincing scapegoats), but simply because she is afraid of peace and intimacy.

What is the alternative to such a scenario? Progressed (solar arc) Mars activating the Ascendant or its ruler suggests a challenge to renew one’s identity, perhaps through adding more courage, boldness and motivated action. In this example, it could also mean that she can begin to embrace a new sense of self within relationships: one that doesn’t involve constant fights and anger with her loved ones.

In making a significant change such as this, we need to be willing to let go of old, familiar patterns (e.g. criticism, fault-finding, etc). This would likely trigger deep fear-response from the unconscious, which you need to have the courage to accept and move through. In this way, the archetypal energy of Mars is being used to take us to a new awareness of success and peace in relationships, instead of being used to create upsets and perpetuate old patterns.

Progressed Mars: Moving Through Resistance

Of course, we’re not just talking about relationships – this can apply to any area of life. If you notice anger, tension or anxiety building within your body while progressed or solar arc Mars is activating your horoscope, check to see if your life is changing, perhaps for the better. Fear of success is a real thing, and becoming aware of our resistance to feel better can help us release old habits and create a new, more powerful sense of self.

Uranus-Pluto Transiting Square 2011-2016

In Spring of 2011, Uranus and Pluto came within orb of transiting square in the beginning of Cardinal signs, and they will continue to move in lockstep, squaring each other until 2016. Collectively, this reflects massive potential for change and upheaval – some of which we’ve already seen in the Middle East. Individually, this dual transit is/will be making a hard aspect to all of our planets and points located within the first half of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.)

Neptune in Pisces 2011-2025

Elsewhere, Neptune has moved into its own sign Pisces in 2011, and will be powerfully impacting our planets in the beginning of Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.)

All three planets (including Pluto, which is technically no longer a planet but still important) invite profound change of the status quo which was defined by Saturn. In this article we’ll take a look at the significance of each outer planet transit to your horoscope.

Outer Planets Challenge Existing Order

Transits and solar arc of Saturn tend to build upon the existing order through developments like promotions and additional responsibility within our current career. On the other hand, the outer planet transits or solar arc often involve a fundamental shift in your attitude, vision and perspective about why you do what you do.

Interpreting Solar Arc Planets

Here are some general guidelines for interpreting the meaning of planets progressed through the Solar Arc method. Since each “arc” will last for approximately 9 months (6 months applying, 3 months separating), we can add the faster moving planets and points to the interpretation.

ASC or MC solar arcs tend to manifest as visible events in terms of the planet that they are aspecting. MC arc may suggest a vocationally significant development. For example, solar arc of MC making a hard aspect to Pluto (which is written as MC=Pluto) may suggest an empowerment in terms of career, or a status change within the family such as relocation, etc.
Sun solar arc suggests “illumination” of self in terms of the planet aspected by it. Solar Arc Sun=Venus may be a time where love relationship is especially highlighted, or when an artistic project receives rewarding recognition, etc.

Moon solar arc suggests the shift in emotional needs in terms of the aspected planets. Moon=Pluto may be a time when passion and zeal enters the heart; Moon=Jupiter may be when international interest opens up.

Mercurysolar arc potentially suggests development of an idea, communication, or travels.

Venussolar arc may suggest development of love, relationship, arts, or pleasant dealing with the public.

Mars solar arc can suggest a time when you make a stand, or assume additional responsibility and meet it successfully.

Jupiter solar arc often suggests rewards, opportunity, and education.
Saturn solar arc suggests change of gears, ambition moving forward, or some inevitable hardship that leads to maturity.
Uranus solar arc suggests status change that may lead to greater individuation, freedom, or innovative change. Individuation may necessitate a separation from old relationship.
Neptune solar arc suggests inspiration or confusion. It tends to be beneficial for people in aesthetic professions such as artists, entertainers and fashion designers. In general, Neptune transit or Arc to the Angle suggests a time of “ego wipeout.”

Pluto solar arc suggests change that may lead to empowerment, rebirth, and necessary endings or death.

Nodal Axis solar arc may suggest important meetings, or connection with the public through work.

It’s helpful to remember that not all of the solar arcs manifest as an observable change. In the next post we’ll discuss some practical considerations that modify our expectation with regards to transits and solar arcs.

Solar Arc vs Secondary Progression: Which Systems to Use?

Secondary progression (i.e. “a day for a year” method of directing a natal chart) has been around for a long time, but it was by no means the only method of progressing a horoscope. Throughout the history of astrology, astrologers have invented different methods of projecting a natal chart into the future.

Right now, Solar Arc and Secondary Progression are the most popular methods used by professional astrologers. Noel Tyl popularized the Solar Arc method (although he still uses Secondary Progressed Moon). There are many fine astrologers using Secondary Progression as their tool of choice, so both methods are here to stay.

Difference between Secondary Progressed and Solar Arc Planets

One of the key differences between the two methods is that in Solar Arc you get to advance the slower moving planets (Saturn through Pluto) that hardly move in the Secondary Progression method, so this tends to add more interpretive possibilities when forecasting.

Noel Tyl, who has written extensively about both progression methods, stated that in our modern era, important life changes (e.g. divorce, job change, relocation, etc) occur much more frequently than in previous times – thus we need a method that more accurately reflects the rapid pace of modern life.

In Secondary Progression, outer planets are pretty much unusable due to how slowly they move. In Solar Arc, you’ll see natal outer planets located in cadent (3rd, 6th, 9th or 12th) houses crossing an angle within the first 10-30 years of life, frequently representing major restructuring of family unit, home environment, or the profession.

How to Calculate Solar Arc Planets’ Movement

Solar Arc planets “move” at the speed of Secondary Progressed Sun, which is approximately one degree per year. If you obtain the current location of SP (secondary progressed) Sun, and calculate the arc (angular distance) between the SP Sun and the natal Sun, you have the “Solar Arc” you need to progress your natal chart to its current Solar Arc position (your astrology software will make this calculation for you automatically.)

Even a fast-moving planet like Venus will have a longer time frame (say 6 months applying, and 3 months separating) to be in orb using a Solar Arc method: this means Solar Arc of Venus aspecting the natal Sun (written Venus=Sun) would last for about 9 months, strongly suggesting the success of a relationship or an artistic endeavor.

In transit, Venus moves so fast that it can’t have much of an impact except for a couple days of pleasantness. Similar things can be said of Jupiter, whose transit is fleeting but under the Solar Arc, suggests a 9 months period in which reward or opportunity is likely to be presented.

Testing Solar Arc in Your Own Horoscope

Solar Arc is relatively easy to test in your own horoscope: add 1 degree per year to the natal planets to see how they move and form an aspect with the natal planet. The orb needs to be exact (less than one degree) in order for the Arc to be in effect, and we count hard aspects (conjunction, square and opposition) only.

If natal ASC (Ascendant) is at 12 Leo, and natal Saturn is at 22 Leo, this means Solar Arc ASC will conjoin natal Saturn at age 10 (we write ASC=Sat to denote this period), then we ask if there had been a status change within the family around that age: some Saturnian event such as death in the family, sickness, move, or change in father’s position, etc.

Conclusion: Secondary Progression vs Solar Arc?

Solar Arc is a modern derivative of Secondary Progression that allows the astrologers to utilize Saturn and outer planets more fully in their predictive work. Many modern astrologers including myself use Solar Arc (which gives central importance to the Secondary Progressed Sun’s movement) in combination with Secondary Progressed Moon (which is a very important timer of life progress.)

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About Hiroki Niizato

Welcome! I use humanistic astrology to help people in areas that are important for them. Like where their business, career or marriage is going, what their main lessons might be in this life, and what they need in order to be fulfilled.